David Maxwell

David James Maxwell passed into the arms of his Lord on April 29, 2023, just 5 days after 70th birthday, at Canora Gateway Lodge.
David was born on April 24, 1953, to Kathleen Mary Maxwell (nee Hyndman) and Rev. James Maxwell in Hamiota, MB. When David was five weeks old, he was found to have a pyloric stenosis, for which he had surgery at Winnipeg Children’s Hospital. He and his mother moved into Winnipeg and stayed with his great-grandparents while he received treatment. Shortly after, his mother was diagnosed with polio, and David was cared for by an aunt and his grandmother. His mother recovered but suffered with a limp for the rest of her life.
David’s father was the minister at the United Church in McConnell, MB before moving to Glenboro, where David’s younger brother, Ian, was born in 1956. They adopted a little girl, Shelagh, in 1959. The young family also lived in Boissevain, Birtle, Watrous, and Eston.
By the time David was in high school, they were living in St. Charles, just outside Winnipeg.  Both David and Ian took music lessons, David in voice and Ian in piano. David was chosen to tour Europe with a Peace Garden Choir when in high school, one of the few Canadians in the combined choir and orchestra. Having a classically trained voice, David later sang with Winnipeg Opera Chorus as an adult.
David graduated from high school in 1972 and worked for several years before delving into more education. Over the years, David completed: a Diploma of Bible Studies from the Swift Current Bible Institute, a Bachelor of Divinity at the Canadian Mennonite College, and a Bachelor of Arts with a major in history and minor in literature at The University of Manitoba.
After working various jobs, including many years as a professional tarot reader, he completed a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at University of Manitoba, and a Master of Divinity at St. Andrew’s College, University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. 
He was ordained in June 2001 and went on to serve in several pastoral charges including the Alameda-Frobisher pastoral charge, the Roblin Knox United Church in Roblin, MB and the Grenfell United Church in SK until he retired in 2018. He also served as chaplain for the Royal Canadian Legion branches in Roblin, Grenfell, and Canora.
David met Debra Pinkerton in 2007, and they married July 9, 2011, at Calling Lake Centre in Fort Qu’Appelle. They spent the first six months of married life apart, while Debra lived in Canora and David in Roblin, before he first moved to Canora then accepted the church in Grenfell. After his retirement, they returned to Canora, where they spent several lovely years before David suffered his first stroke in December 2021. A second stroke in June 2022 forced him to move first to the Kamsack Nursing Home and then Gateway Lodge in January 2023.
David was predeceased by his parents, Jim and Kaye; and his sister, Shelagh Caulder. He is survived by his wife, Debra Pinkerton of Canora, SK; and his brother, Ian (Margaret) of Norway House, M.B.; as well as several nieces, nephews, extended family and his many friends. 
In David’s honour, a Memorial Service was celebrated at 2:00 p.m., Monday, May 8, 2023, from the Chapel of Leson’s Funeral Home, with Rev. Marg Janick-Grayston officiating. Those wishing to make expressions of sympathy may make donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or to the Royal Canadian Legion – Branch #52, as tokens of remembrance, in memory of David Maxwell.